Questions remain over Flock cameras in Desert Hot Springs

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The Desert Hot Springs Police Department is responding to community questions about its use of Flock Safety cameras.

In a recent message to residents, Police Chief Steven Shaw said the cameras help officers solve crimes, recover stolen vehicles, locate missing people, and generate investigative leads. He said the technology is not used for immigration enforcement and is not intended to monitor the daily activities of law-abiding residents.

The statement comes as some residents raise concerns about privacy, transparency, and oversight.

Joshua Hendrik, a Desert Hot Springs resident who has reviewed city records related to surveillance technology, recently submitted a demand letter to the city. He argues Desert Hot Springs should provide more public information about its policies, audits, training materials, and compliance with state transparency requirements.

Police dispute those concerns, saying the department follows state and federal law, limits access to trained personnel, and makes its policies available to the public.